We are all thinking back 10 years to that very tragic day of September 11 when a plane flew into the twin towers. I had just recently moved back to Illinois from Pennsylvania and could not believe when my daughter called me to watch the TV with her
I remember standing in awe, watching together as a plane flew into the second tower; I remember the shock and the tears knowing at that moment we were attacked and at war. I thought of all my friends on the east coast and wanted to contact them to make sure everyone was okay.
My best friend at that time was a police officer in New Jersey; I thought of him and his family and remember I was on pins and needles until I was able to talk to him. In fear because my oldest daughter was in such denial as her newly husband had just signed up for the Army. She either didn’t want to believe or wouldn’t allow herself to believe it was possible her husband would be trained and then deployed off to war.
My daughter Wendy and I remained glued to the TV all day and when you didn’t think it could get worse, a plane hit the Pentagon. At that moment we both said “Oh my God” what is going on? Then the reports came in that Chicago was on alert for a terrorist attack. My sister, my brothers and their children live in Chicago.
I remember the sense of helplessness not knowing how bad the attack was or was going to get. My daughter was worried about the nuclear plants we lived by and what if they were hit, the fear that day, was unbelievable.
Flight 93 was scheduled to depart shortly after 8:00 a.m. from Newark, New Jersey en route to San Francisco, California. The Boeing 757, with 44 people on board, was delayed on the runway for several minutes before taking off. Less than an hour into the flight, as the plane was nearing Cleveland, Ohio, the Flight 93 suddenly and abruptly changed course heading southeast in the direction of Washington, DC before eventually crashing into a remote field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
10 years after the attack I remember those who lost their life and light a candle for those we lost and the families left behind. Our lives have forever changed and the fear remains as I listen to tonight’s news and CNN alerts us on this anniversary. I’m proud to be an American and I absolutely love our country but after the attack on 911 I remain a bit scared of the unknown.